An alert has been issued to hayfever sufferers over the highest pollen levels of the year so far today.

Leicester is set to experience high levels of pollen today and all this week due to the rising temperatures and dry weather.

It's set to be 15C in the city today - and as high as 22C on Thursday.

The cold snap into spring has delayed the start of the pollen season for trees, normally underway by mid-March - squashing together the times of release meaning more trees are releasing their pollen right now.

Birch and ash trees are currently the worst offenders.

The high forecast in the East Midlands is also expected to last into the weekend as the warm weather continues.